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Every winter, your plumbing takes a beating. Even if you live in the southern United States, you can expect winter temperatures to wreak havoc on your pipes. The main winter plumbing problem is frozen pipes. When pipes freeze and burst, it causes a terrible mess that can be quite costly. In addition to damage to your pipes, you may also have water damage to your home and this can cause further problems.The best way to solve the problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place. If you can do this, you’ll save lots of money on repairs to your home. Here are a few winter prevention tips to keep your pipes healthy and flowing right.Leave The Heat OnKeep your home warm throughout the winter and you won’t have pipes freezing and bursting inside. Of course, this raises another problem – what about your electricity bill? You don’t have to keep your home in high temperatures; just make sure that the temperature inside doesn’t get too cold. You should also take measures to ensure that your windows and doors are properly sealed. Cold air from outside is another major culprit in freezing pipes.Let Them DripMake sure that you turn on every faucet occasionally and let it drip for a while. You don’t have to waste too much water; just a little is fine. Faucets and fixtures that you don’t use too often are the most dangerous. These are the areas where pipes are the most likely to freeze. When you let them drip, this keeps water flowing through them and prevents freezing.Wrap Them UpIf you have pipes that are exposed outside or pipes that are in crawlspaces, attics and other areas that are exposed to the winter cold, make sure that they’re properly insulated. Wrap them up in foam insulation to keep them warm or else you’ll definitely have some burst pipes on your hands. The ones that are exposed to the cold air are especially vulnerable.Hot Water Heater MaintenanceBefore the cold weather sets in, do a little hot water heater maintenance. Look for sediment build-ups around the heater and remove them. Your hot water heater has to work extra hard during the winter months, and this added strain can cause it to malfunction if it’s not properly maintained. It’ll work more efficiently and also last much longer.It’s not a bad idea to call the plumber for a little plumbing inspection before the winter months set in. They can inspect everything and make sure that you don’t have any trouble spots. This costs money, of course, but the cost of having your home’s plumbing inspected can save you seriously on repair costs if something goes wrong. It’s an investment in keeping your pipes healthy and happy.
Article Tags:
Home's Plumbing, Don't Have, Make Sure, Water Heater
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